Simulation of utilitarian and leisure scenarios: An auxiliary decision-making model for designing active-mobility public space

Active-mobility public space (AMPS) integrates walking and cycling with recreation and everyday outdoor life, yet its multifunctional nature and the interaction between behaviour and environment make design decisions difficult to substantiate. This study aimed to develop and demonstrate a scenario-based pedestrian simulation workflow that links spatial diagnosis to design iteration for AMPS renewal. Using a university campus in Shanghai, China, as a living laboratory, we developed two scenario models in AnyLogic, one for utilitarian peak period travel and the other for leisure activities. Utilitarian demand was derived from origin-destination (OD) data, while leisure demand combined an OD probability matrix with a utility formulation weighted by environmental attraction. The workflow was then applied to support design evaluation and refinement. Results show that scenario-based simulations reveal bottlenecks during the peak period and the intensity of leisure use, and support iterative design refinement by testing alternatives and informing targeted interventions. The study provides a transferable, evidence-informed method for outdoor public space design.